Today's News

Many residents in the Cape Fear region are looking for ways to lower energy costs and may supplement their energy needs for heating by using firewood.

January and February are typically our coldest months for the winter. I am always looking for some good information to pass along to clients when I came across this information on firewood from John Church from the Rockford Extension Center, affiliated with the University of Illinois.

As I marched determinedly through Walmart many months ago, an intriguing book title caught my eye. “Eat, Pray, Love” was its command. Thinking it was another of the many spiritual books on dieting and knowing I’d not follow through, I continued my trek through the store. Groceries purchased and placed in my various tote bags, I drove home. But the book title sang in my head, a mantra that impelled a future trip to the library so I could peruse the writing at my leisure.

Now is a great time to launch a new shape-up program with the Brunswick County Parks and Recreation Department’s 2009 spring fitness schedule.

A variety of classes are slated throughout the county, kicking off this month and continuing in coming weeks. They range from Zumba fitness and Aido Shokai JuJutsu martial arts to cardio and strength training and dance classes.

CALABASH—With county officials slated to be at next Tuesday’s town commissioners meeting to answer questions about the town’s delayed wastewater project, commissioners this week already had more than a few questions of their own.

Before Brunswick County fiscal operations director Ann Hardy and public utilities director Jerry Pierce attend the meeting set for 6 p.m. Jan. 13, commissioners were asked to submit their questions by this Thursday.

Town administrator Vincent Long said that’s because county officials wanted to be prepared.

While covering the Southwest Brunswick Junior American Legion baseball season, I noticed one of the baserunners hardly ever got caught stealing. I told manager Mike Alderson how impressed I was with this ballplayer’s speed, and Alderson said, “You should see Ryan Hill.”

I had been a sportswriter at this newspaper for a few weeks and did not know Ryan Hill. That changed last fall.

West senior John Mendoza is county player of the year in soccer. West coach Tripp Smith is the county coach of the year.

The sports staffs of the The Beacon and The Pilot selected players on the basis of recommendations from coaches, conference honors and performance throughout the season.

Mendoza, a forward, scored 18 goals and had eight assists playing against some of the toughest competition in the state. Coaches noticed: The N.C. Soccer Coaches Association selected Mendoza to the Class 3-A All-State team in addition to the Region 4 Class 3-A team.

In the first quarter, Robbins scored eight points and Fisher five in leading North to an 18-7 lead. The Scorpions led 25-13 at the half, but when the Wolfpack scored to cut the lead to 29-18 with 3:35 left in the third quarter, coach Travis Fortune called time. When play resumed, the Scorpions went on a 9-0 run that clinched the victory.